Virtues of the Mothers of the Believers

A Muslim woman finds true happiness when she follows the example of the best women who lived in the best of generations. These women lived in the noblest of homes, the home of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. Allah The Almighty exalted their status, honoured their rank and the Qur’an praised them in the verse in which Allah the Almighty Says (what means): {O wives of the Prophet, you are not like anyone among women, if you fear Allah.} [Qur’an 33:32] They were blessed wives and great women.Khadijah bint Khuwaylid(may Allah be pleased with her)She was the first wife of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam, -- wise, intelligent, religious, and of noble lineage. She was brought up to observe virtues, noble morals, and generosity.She was the epitome of chastity and honour, for she was known among the Makkan women as “The chaste”. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, married her and she was the best of wives to him. She supported him with herself, her money, and intelligence. At times of distress and sadness, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, used to resort to her and tell her about his pains and worries. When he received the Revelation through Jibril (may Allah exalt his mention), for the first time, he returned to her with a trembling heart and said to her: “I do not know what happened to me! O Khadijah! I fear that something harmful may happen to me!” She received him with a steadfast heart, and said, “Never! By Allah. Allah will never disgrace you!”Islam first saw light in her home and she was the first to embrace it. Ibn Al-Kathir (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: “According to the consensus of the Muslims, Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) was the first person to embrace Islam. She was preceded by neither a man nor a woman!”The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, was greatly distressed at the beginning of his Da’wah (calling people to Islam) and was exposed to severe torture. At that time, Khadijah provided him with comfort and wise opinion. Whenever he heard something hateful from people and he returned to her she always supported and comforted him. Counting her virtues, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “She believed in me when people disbelieved, held me truthful when people belied me, provided me with wealth when people prevented me and Allah granted me children from her while He deprived me that from other women.” [Ahmad]She was a great woman, a dutiful wife, and a kind mother. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, had all his children from her except Ibrahim. She had noble morals and sublime qualities, as she never argued with the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, in any discussion nor harmed him in any dispute. In a Hadeeth, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Jibril came to me and said, ‘Give her (Khadijah) the glad tidings of a palace made of hollowed pearls in Paradise, in which there will be neither noise nor trouble.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]As-Suhayli (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: “She was given the glad tidings of a house in Paradise because she never raised her voice over that of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, nor did she ever bother him.”She was pleased with her Lord and Allah The Almighty is pleased with her.In a Hadith, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Jibril told me, ‘When Khadijah comes to you, convey to her the greeting of her Lord and mine as well.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: “Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her, was the only woman known to have had this virtue. Allah The Almighty loved her and so did His angels, as well as the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. In a Hadith, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Her love was nurtured in my heart by Allah.” [Muslim]Whenever the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, mentioned her, he would exalt her and praise her companions. ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “Whenever the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, mentioned Khadijah, he would never get tired of praising her and invoking Allah to forgive her, as a way of showing gratitude for her love and faithfulness, and he used to honour her friends after her death.”‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) added, “He would often slaughter a goat, cut it into parts and distribute it among Khadijah’s friends. Whenever I asked him: ‘(You act) as if there was no other women in the world except Khadijah!’ He would say (praising Khadijah): ‘She was this and that (counting her virtues) and she bore my children.’” [Al-Bukhari]After her death, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, heard her sister’s voice. He then became sad and said: “She reminds me of Khadijah.”Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) attained perfection in religiousness, mind, and morals. In a Hadith, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Many men attained perfection, but only three women attained perfection: Maryam bint ‘Imran (Mary, the daughter of ’Imran), Asiyah the wife of Pharaoh, and Khadijah bint Khuwaylid.” [Ibn Mardawayh]She preceded the women of this Ummah (nation) in righteousness, honour, and splendor. The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Maryam bint ‘Imran was the best of the women of her time, and the best woman of this Ummah is Khadijah.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) was righteous and made her home righteous as well. She reaped the fruit of her efforts and she and her daughter became the best women in Paradise. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “The best of the women of the dwellers of Paradise are: Khadijah, Fatimah, Maryam, and Asiyah.” [Ahmad]She occupied a great position in the heart of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. He did not marry any woman before her neither did he marry any woman nor have any bondmaids while she was still with him until she died. He was extremely distressed upon her death. Ath-Thahabi may Allah have mercy upon him said, “She was intelligent, gracious, religious, chaste, and noble. She is one of the dwellers of Paradise.”‘A’ishah bint Abu Bakr As-Siddiq(may Allah be pleased with them both)In the house of truthfulness and piety, ‘A’ishah bint Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with them both) was born. She grew in a home that was based on faith, for her mother was a Companion, her sister was Asmaa’(may Allah be pleased with her) the lady of the two girdles, was also a Companion, and her brother was also a Companion of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. Her father was the Siddiq of this Ummah (the steadfast affirmer of truth of the Muslim Ummah).She grew in the home of knowledge, for her father was the prominent scholar and genealogist of the Quraysh. She was endowed with extraordinary intelligence and a sharp memory. Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: “Among all the nations, there was none like ‘A’ishah in her sharp memory, knowledge, eloquence, and intelligence. She preceded all women in knowledge and wisdom as she was blessed with understanding Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), memorising poetry, and all the sciences of Shari’ah (Islamic jurisprudence).”Ath-Thahabi (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: “She was the most knowledgeable among all women of this Ummah. I do not know a woman more knowledgeable than her in the Muslim Ummah, or even from among all the women of the world.”She surpassed all other women by her virtues and kind companionship. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “‘A’ishah ‘s excellence over other women is like that of Thareed (a delicious mixture of meat and bread) over other types of food.” [Al-Bukhari]The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, loved her very much and he loved only what is good and beautiful. ‘Amr ibn Al-‘As (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, once: “Who is most beloved to you from among people?” He replied: “‘A’ishah.” Then ‘Amr asked: “(Who is most beloved to you) from among men?” He replied: “Her father.” [Al-Bukhari]She was the only virgin woman from among the wives of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, and the only wife in whose bed the Revelation (Jibril, may Allah exalt his mention) came to him. She was a chaste woman and sincere worshipper. She used to go out only during the night in order to screen herself from men. She said: “We used to go out only during the night.” In doing so, she applied the verse in which Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance.} [Qur’an 33:33]Commenting on this verse, Al-Qurtubi may Allah have mercy upon him said, “The Shari’ah is full of proofs which oblige women to abide in their houses and not to frequently go out unless there is a necessity. When there is a necessity to go out, women are required to completely cover themselves.”Allah The Almighty puts to trial those whom He loves and one is given trials according to his level of faith. ‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, was accused of adultery when she was twelve years old. She said, “I wept throughout the whole night until the morning. I did not get any sleep, nor did my tears cease until my parents thought that weeping would split my liver.” The trial grew more and more severe until she said, “My tears dried up, so that I could no longer feel a single tear.”Ibn Kathir said: “Allah The Almighty got jealous for her sake.” Therefore, He revealed her innocence in ten Qur’anic verses which will continue to be recited until the end of time. This endowed her with a sublime reputation and prestigious position and proved her chastity while she was still young. Allah The Almighty gave testimony that she is a pure and good woman and further promised her His Forgiveness and abundant Provision.She continued to serve the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, and nurse him during his sickness until he died on the night appointed for her, in her house and while he was leaning between her chin and chest.*The woman of the wholesome heart, Sawdah bint Zam‘ah (may Allah be pleased with her) was the first wife of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, after the death of Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her). She remained his only wife for three years. She was revered and noble and endowed with a clear and pure heart. Caring for the feelings of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, she gave up the night that was appointed for her to ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) seeking the Satisfaction of her Lord.* Hafsah, daughter of the Commander of the Believers, ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with them both) was a devout worshipper who was steadfast in her prayers and fasting. She grew up in a house whose members supported Islam and worked hard to make the truth manifest. Seven people from her family attended the battle of Badr. Concerning her, ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “She was the only one to vie with me (with regard to her status from the Prophet) from among the wives of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam.”*The benevolent, Zaynab bint Khuzaymah Al-Hilaliyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) was a generous giver and used to hasten in doing righteous and good deeds. She remained the wife of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, for two months and then died.*Umm Habibah, Ramlah bint Abu Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with them) emigrated for the sake of Allah The Almighty seeking His reward. Unlike all the other wives of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, she was the closest in kinship relation to him, received the highest dowry, and was the farthest in distance from him when he concluded the marriage with her. He concluded the marriage with her when she was in Abyssinia fleeing to protect her religion. The King of Abyssinia paid her dowry on behalf of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, and provided her with the necessary marital needs.*Umm Salamah, Hind bint Abu Ummayyah (may Allah be pleased with her) was known as a patient and bashful believer, who was one of the early emigrants to Madinah. When she wanted to migrate to Madeenah with her husband, Abu Salamah, may Allah be pleased with him, her people separated her and her husband and child. She said, “I used to go out every morning and sit in the valley of Makkah and cry until the evening. I kept doing this for about a year until they finally sympathised with me and returned my child to me.”She had firm and strong faith in Allah The Almighty. When her husband, Abu Salamah, may Allah be pleased with him, died, she followed the guidance of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, and supplicated Allah The Almighty Who compensated her with the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam.It was narrated that she said:“I heard the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, saying: ‘When a Muslim is afflicted with an affliction, then he says, ‘We belong to Allah and to Him shall we return; O Allah, Support me through my affliction and Reward me for it and Give me something better in its stead,’ Allah Will Give him something better in its stead.’When Abu Salamah died, I said: “Who is better than Abu Salamah from among the Muslims whose family was the first to emigrate to the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam.’ I then said those words and Allah blessed me with the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam.” [Muslim]So, when you are afflicted with an affliction, you have to use this supplication and Allah The Almighty will compensate you with something better.Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/